DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE

Passage: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24

Key verse: 14

NIV

13 Be on your guard; stand firm(A) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.(B) 14 Do everything in love.(C)

15 You know that the household of Stephanas(D) were the first converts(E) in Achaia,(F) and they have devoted themselves to the service(G) of the Lord’s people.(H) I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit(I) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.(J) 18 For they refreshed(K) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.(L)

Final Greetings

19 The churches in the province of Asia(M) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[a](N) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.(O) 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(P)

21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(Q)

22 If anyone does not love the Lord,(R) let that person be cursed!(S) Come, Lord[b]!(T)

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(U)

24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[c]

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 (A)Be watchful, (B)stand firm in the faith, (C)act like men, (D)be strong. 14 (E)Let all that you do be done in love.

15 Now I urge you, brothers[a]—you know that (F)the household[b] of Stephanas were (G)the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves (H)to the service of the saints— 16 (I)be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for (J)your absence, 18 for they (K)refreshed my spirit as well as yours. (L)Give recognition to such people.

Greetings

19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. (M)Aquila and Prisca, together with (N)the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. (O)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 I, Paul, write (P)this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be (Q)accursed. Our Lord, come![c] 23 (R)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 20
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Greek house
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Greek Maranatha (a transliteration of Aramaic)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul’s last exhortation for the Corinthian Christians is: Be on your guard in the midst of deception of the devil; stand firm in the faith against all relativistic ideas and temptations; be courageous and strong in the grace of Jesus to persevere hardships and do God’s work. Most of all, Paul encouraged them to do everything in love. The problem of division or broken relationships in the church can be solved when we bear each other’s weaknesses and do everything in love. When the love of Christ becomes our motive and life source, we can do it all in love.

Paul recognized and honored some of the leaders in Corinth. He reminded the congregation of the leaders’ labor of love behind the scenes and urged the believers to recognize their service for the Lord and submit to such leaders. Paul delivered greetings from the churches in Asia including Aquila and Priscilla, who helped Paul pioneer the church in Corinth and now was serving house church ministry in Ephesus. Paul ends his letter by mentioning the grace of Jesus which covers all our sins and his love that unifies his people. When we abide in the grace of Jesus and love one another, God blesses us and our community. Paul longed for the coming of the Lord. This is our longing too.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and love for me. Help me to stand firm in the faith and do all things in love.

One Word: Come, Lord Jesus!